Category Archives: News & Updates

News and updates about Watusi cattle, the organization, and members’ farms & ranches. If you have news you would like to publish or would like to become a contributor, please email us at info@watusi.org.

We will soon be posting an updated version of our Rules and Regulations to include all changes that have been implemented in recent years. The majority of these changes have to do with our registration procedures regarding the Hardship program, photographs, qualification for registration and fees. As always, if there are any questions regarding any of the association’s procedures feel free to contact any member of the Board or the office at any time. All of these contacts are listed on the website.

Good morning. We all had a great time at Macon and got quite a bit of work done. It was great to see so many watusi lovers. The Board of Directors voted to retain the percentage hardship program and we are continuing to receive applications on some very nice animals. We discussed at length the differing opinions on this program prior to making our decision. If you were hoping for a different result, please don’t feel we ignored your concerns. Any questions, suggestions or such for this or ANY of our programs and procedures are welcome and encouraged from everyone at any time.

More boring information from the Association….LOL. Many more registration applications keep coming in which is very exciting. We have new members, it is spring and we are getting new calves on our farms. Some of us are trying to catch up on long neglected paperwork (oops, guilty!). We can use snail mail to send in our applications, money and registration photographs but many of us have discovered the wonderful convenience of using email or texting to submit our photos. This is so wonderful and helpful from the old methods, BUT…
When sending in these photos please remember to include your name and the name of the animal that is in the photograph. Robin never wants to sound picky or pushy, but despite all of her wonderful qualities being psychic is not one of them. I personally, consistently forget to tell the sex of my calves (and horses and donkeys…). I have yet to find anyone that can guess without some input as much as I may try.

Well we should all be home after our Macon adventure. The WWA had a good sale with a number of young animals sold, a few adults and and several nice to very nice steers. Everyone had something to choose from. We will post some of the social media accounts and stories from our event. Here are a few to start with:

I love this photo of Jacob. Lakota (Moore) took it on my phone while in the WWA meeting at Comfort Inn in Macon Mo.here is why I love it…This is the face of a man who was awake and working for 36+ hours with no sleep and getting home to load up with me and Lakota and the trailer full of animals to drive 2 hours in pouring rain and heavy winds to make our wishes to attend the Lolli Brothers sale and WWA meeting a reality. This is the face of a man who would do anything for his family. After all that exhaustion and stress he is still here smiling and having a good time. So lucky to have him.#blessed

The World Watusi Association has started a yearly scholarship to be awarded to a graduating high school senior. Details for applications for the 2018 scholarship will be posted at a later date.

We would like to congratulate our very first scholarship recipient, Olivia Woods, daughter of Lewis and Summer Deline of Reed City, Michigan. She attends Pine River High School.

Olivia received the green hand award along with outstanding junior and proficiency award for exotic animals throughout the FFA along with competing in the job interview competition, and making 4th in the state this year and made it to state last year. She has shown four different Watusi cows.

Olivia plans to attend State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology in Cobleskill, New York, for butchering.

Don’t forget that there will be a watusi sale on Thursday, April 5, 2017 at the Lolli Bros Exotic Sale in Macon, Missouri. There are some fine animals consigned. This is one of the rare opportunities to view and purchase a number of registered watusi in one location.

The World Watusi Association will also host their annual Spring Fling on Wednesday April 5, 2017 at 7:00 pm at the Comfort Inn in Macon, Missouri. All are welcome. Dinner will be served together with all the watusi gossip you can handle. We will also have our ‘Fun Auction’ of donated items including this year homemade pies. Bring your checkbook and the family.

Do any; of us ever wonder what other watusi breeders do in their ‘spare’ time. Richard and Pam Jackson, long time breeders and enthusiasts are just one example. Richard served on our board of directors for many years and Pam is currently our secretary. This is them in their private world.

As we go through our days we never know where something will get our attention from social media. One of our Board members, Don Morgan, shared a photo on Facebook asking if anyone knew where it was taken.

I checked it out and contacted the photographer to answer the question and see if he would allow us to publish it. “Hi Clint, Someone shared your lovely photos of watusi (ankole longhorn cattle) on Facebook. Where were these taken? Would you mind if we published them on the World Watusi Association website (www.watusi.org). If so do you have any story you would like to share with us? Cindi Darling”

Clint’s response:

“Hi Yes no problem. The fotos were taken in Western Tanzania. Unfortunately because of medicines and vaccines and poisoning of natural predators the herds are getting to big and they are being taken into the National parks and Game reserves to graze and now the herds men r poaching the wildlife. Very sad. Fotos were taken just outside Kigosi game reserve. It also seems they r immune to the tsetse fly carried sleeping sickness or Nagana as I know it.”

We are pleased to announce the results of our election for the Board of Director’s for the 2016 through 2017 year. We are excited to welcome two new members to our Board, Sheri Gurr of Roosevelt, Utah and Matt Moffatt of Piedmont, Oklahoma. Pat Burnett was reelected for another three year term. We are all excited to start another year and look forward to further supporting our little association and these wonderful cattle.

In addition to the general election we have elected a new slate of officers for the 2016-2017 year. Our new (re-elected) President is Pat Burnett of Wills Point, Texas; our new Vice President is Garett Judd of Edmonton, Kentucky; our new (re-elected) Secretary is Pam Jackson of Water Valley, Kentucky and our new Treasurer is Sheri Gurr of Roosevelt, Utah.

We want to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to our outgoing board member, Richard Jackson who has been an invaluable member of this association and board for many, many years. We would also like to thank Joy Rider for serving as our Treasurer for the past few years. We know our association will continue to depend on both of these valuable members for years to come

I hate to be the bearer of sad news, but we have lost our beloved Dick Heiken of Heiken’s Ark in Des Moines, Iowa. Dick and Kathy has been mainstays in our little association for longer than they would like to admit. Their contribution to the breed and our association is unlimited. Dick will be missed by anyone who ever met him.

To all members and watusi owners. We regularly receive a number of questions regarding our registration procedures and rules. A complete copy of our rules is located on this website. If you have any specific questions always feel free to contact Robin at our office or any of our board members, we promise that we will find you an answer.